Event hosting can be as intimidating as it is fun. The designing, brainstorming, and creating is one thing. Executing without breaking the bank is quite another. It’s a skill that requires developing like any other. Everything in life has gotten more expensive, and our paychecks and pocketbooks never seem to keep up. Taylor and I firmly believe however, that with a little creativity and some prime prioritization- you can still absolutely host get-togethers, parties, events, and soirees that people will remember without overcommitting yourself. There is pride to be had in creating intentional events while honoring a budget.

Don’t get me wrong- all artists dream of creating amazing art and experiences where they can let their creativity run wild and not be limited by finances, and we’re no different. However, even more so- we love creating unique events for real people. People like us who do have budgets and limitations. There is a specific type of creativity that comes into play when you begin to ask, ‘how much can I do with how little?’. Everybody can learn to be an amazing host, and today I’d like to start sharing the basics.

Setting Your Main Budget:

This technically stating the obvious, but it is the most important step. Set a realistic budget, not a budget that’s going to have you waking up in cold sweats in the middle of the night because you have this idea and it just has to be ‘go big or go home’. I have been there, and I am telling you- the trade off is not worth it.

Define what kind of Event You’re Hosting:

We’re going to prioritize different things depending on what kind of event we’re hosting, so this step is important. A more formal event with a high head count might sacrifice elaborate décor for a bartending service with one to two bartenders, whereas as small or medium get together like an evening soiree or an afternoon cocktail event can focus a bit more on the table accents and décor. A child’s birthday party doesn’t need a huge food budget, but it does warrant more of a focus on décor or activities and things that will grab and hold attention.

The Scenario:

Event planning and hosting to me, is really only half about your own idea and vision. At its heart, it’s about hospitality and pouring in to others. The only thing that really requires is knowing your guests or friends and designing something for them.

To show this better so I’m not just throwing vague guidelines at you, I’m going to give you an imaginary scenario and we’ll use this to build context throughout the rest of this exercise.

let’s say we are planning an evening anniversary party. They’re a social family and love having people over. Their house is set up for entertaining, and they have a beautiful backyard, so we don’t need to factor in a venue. Our budget is $500 for 35 people. The couple is in their late 50’s and are celebrating their 30^th wedding anniversary. It’s a classy group and they want elevated but not stuffy. Smart- Casual. Not a full dinner, but upscale small bites and cocktails. It’s a 4 hour event and they want some structure for the evening, but nothing overly rigid.

Section Out Your Budget:

Decide what is most important to you based on the type of event you have defined. Before you go through Pinterest with the vengeance of a PTA mom, take some time to portion out your budget into different categories. Do this first. This will help avoid unreasonable expectations. Its easier to not overextend yourself if you have a hard number in your head.

I find the “cash envelopes” method as useful now as it was in college for making sure I do not overspend. This can be trickier if you are planning an event over a longer period of time like a wedding, but for smaller events it’s great. If not, just make sure to keep track of receipts. If you go over in one area, you’ll have to move money from another.

Again, I say that excellent hospitality is about prioritizing and anticipating the comfort of your guests. Thinking about the kind of people/ the people in attendance and what is going to be most important to them. That may just be whoever you are having over if you are the host. Or, in the case of the wedding anniversary it’s a combination of meeting the requests of the couple while anticipating the wants and flow of their guests as well.

With our anniversary scenario I would outline something like this:

• Food: 30% or $150
• Cocktails/Beverage: 30% or $150
• Rentals: 30% or $150
• Décor: 10% or $50
• Entertainment: 0% or $0

Let’s go over the reasoning behind each category below so we can get into the nitty gritty of it.

Food Budget:

This couple doesn’t want a full sit-down meal, but they do want some light bites. Think Hor d’ Oeuvres, Sexy Charcuterie, Cocktail bites, and Petite Fours. Depending on your priorities and skill set you can either make these yourself using the $150 to purchase in ingredients or you can split this 60/40 between two vendors to do savories and sweets. Or you can find someone like us, that will help you design both within that budget.

Let’s say in this case the couple or their party planning daughter didn’t want the stress of being responsible for the day-of cooking so they hired us to do a small grazing table with charcuterie, appetizers, and some crostinis as well as a mini dessert table with macarons, eclairs, lemon tartlets. While it requires some creativity- it IS doable with $150.

Cocktails/ Beverages:

This couple is focused more on hospitality and service, so it’s worth reducing the food budget to have a bartender present. This way the couple are free to focus on their guests and celebrating their anniversary, not mixing drinks. AND they get that extra swanky feeling or service. 25 people is EASILY handled by a single bartender, so no need to have a second, and this couple didn’t need or want a crazy full bar- wine and 2 signature cocktails. A red wine, a white wine, a beer option, whisky, tequila, some juice & mixers and you have all you need for a number of drink possibilities at your fingertips.

The couple does have an outdoor bar in their backyard so the bartender didn’t need to bring a set-up, which helps reduce the cost.

Rentals:

This couple cares a bit more about the ambiance and having a little bit of elevation. They don’t want disposable plates and forks but they don’t have fancy China that isn’t Christmas themed. While they have plenty of seating, they do need 2 small tables and some linens to make them look sharp for their small bites and desserts.

In this case we’re going to reach out to a company like Cranberry Sky Rentals and rent some elegant serving wear pieces, and some flat wear, either using an A la Carte option or a small package like their “shower” option. This gives us access to finer quality dishes in an environmentally friendly way, without breaking the bank or needing to store them afterwards.

Décor:

In this scenario, we are leaning into the ambiance of their backyard since they already designed it with an eye to having guests. The couple has a fire pit, string lights, a pergola/trellis covered in honeysuckle, and a gorgeous garden with a small pond.

We don’t need much for this event, just a bit of personality for centerpieces on the tables in the backyard. If you want something really unique that might require some DIYing we will always suggest thrifting and repurposing (YES, even for elevated events!!!). This option allows you to keep it afterwards if it’s something you really love. The other option would be to move this money into your “rentals” budget and rent some centerpieces from someone like Cranberry Sky. Again, this makes it more environmentally friendly, and reduces your need to keep things afterwards.

Candles, candelabras, small table runners, or vintage vases make excellent options. Let the space do the work and highlight as needed.

Entertainment:

While this couple wants some structure to their event, we’re hosting a mature group of people. Unlike a child’s birthday party- where some of your hospitality might need to be funneled into organized entertainment in the form of experiences, or possibly into craft supplies- this group doesn’t need it.

The Couple plans to project the pictures and video of their wedding onto an outdoor screen, allowing for some loose and light entertainment, and freeing up 100% of the budget for the things that really need it.

How to apply this budget model to other events:

This is a relatively small event and is easily broken down into those 5 categories. If the event is bigger- say, a wedding- it may be easier or more prudent to have more specific categories. I.e. photographer, dress, favors, etc.

You are still going to need to start by defining the style of the event, set an overall budget, and then prioritize which items need the most attention to get the most bang for your buck so that you don’t accidentally overspend in an area that isn’t important to you.

Maximizing Benefits for an Efficient Budget:

There is a difference between having a budget, and having an efficient budget that works as hard as you do. An efficient budget almost does the work for you. This comes back to knowing your clients and both parties having clear expectations. You can’t execute an unclear vision, and sometimes people need guidance with this.

What do I mean by that? The more aligned the event is with the lifestyle of the people designing/ hiring/ host/ or executing- the less gaps you will have to fill, and the more you can make of each area of the design.

For instance, in that scenario we discussed, the only thing that could have made that budget even BETTER, is if the clients were the kind of people that already had serving ware/dishes they wanted to use, eliminating the need for rentals and widening their food, décor, or beverage budget.

Think how hard it would be to host a tiki party in a barn. Not that it can’t be done- but that you’re going to have to stretch things to reach the ambiance you’re going for. The best thing you can do for your budget is to maximize your space- whether that is renting a space that feeds your ambiance, or reverse engineering and creating a “style” that matches the space, the less class you have the more wiggle room.

As another example, when I got married and we designed my Forest Fairytale wedding I envisioned big trees and lots & lots of flowers, little hidden walkways that would be great for pictures, and a space that would feel like you stepped right on the boundary between your grandma’s garden and the fae realm in the forest. If you have ever purchased flowers you know that they are EXPENSIVE (and worth every penny). To get the kind of florals and greenery that I had in my head would have required me to chew off an arm, or something equally dear to me.

Instead, we looked for a venue that had an abundance of natural greenery. This led us to Paul George at Moon Mountain Lodge, who has designed what is in my opinion one the most versatile, accommodating, greenery abundant venues in the state. His intentional and well thought out landscape hugely minimized additional purchases and instead allowed me to lean into the landscape and only purchase the florals I really needed.

If you have a Thrifty budget, get Thrifting.

I mean this literally, and the more time you give yourself- the better. Finding the right pieces can be difficult and may take several trips. If you’re new to thrifting, you’ll want to check out Taylor’s article on thrifting for beginners to learn how to set yourself some guide rules.

Goodwill’s & Value Villages are a great place to start, however we always encourage yard sales and local thrift stores when possible. Check out google maps and see what pops up for secondhand stores and thrift stores near you.

If you are a Snohomish or Skagit valley local we love:

• Arlington Pickers
• Bits & Pieces
• Strike Your Fancy
• Stilly Thrift Shop
• Found it
• Bargains Galore Thrift Store
• Again Thrift Shop
• Red Door Antique Mall
• Marysville Value Village
• Mt. Vernon Goodwill

Craft Stores are a Budget’s best Friend

Before you hit ‘add to cart’ on all the décor pieces of your dreams, ask yourself Taylor’s favorite question “how hard could it be?”. No really, ask yourself though- and be honest about the answers.

Take a look at your design wants and needs with a critical eye. A LOT of centerpieces, decorations, and detail work can be DIY’d with time, planning, hot glue, and a few well placed youtube videos.

HOWEVER! Know your limitations. Some things are just better left to a professional. If you think you are biting off more than you can chew- you probably are. You can teach yourself a lot, but play to your strengths. If you know you’re a terrible sewer- then the time to test that is probably not on your wedding veil, ya feel me?

The Bottom Line

Budgeting-like any other skill- is something that anybody can learn with practice. It sounds easy to say to yourself “set an amount, and don’t go over it. Prioritize.” But it’s quite another to do it, the world is expensive- we feel you.

Stick to your guidelines, and flex your creative muscles! With enough creativity, you can in fact, do pretty much anything you want. Remember that at the end of the day, hosting is about hospitality- and what people are really going to remember is how you made them feel. Focus on serving your guests, make them feel welcome, comfortable, and cared for and you can’t go wrong.

Have fun!

Mikaela

Happy July Guild Members! Today is the perfect day to talk about one specific section of our business that is near and dear to my heart: sustainable weddings. Specifically, creating reusable and heirloom pieces for your wedding or event. I touched on this in our wedding sustainability post, but I chatted with a bride the other day and she brought it to my attention that not a lot of people understand what I mean right away.

So What Do I Mean?

One of the questions we get most often is “What do you ladies do?”. With everything RavenWerks does and offers, it can be a challenge to describe all our hopes and dreams in a few sentences. Partially because we cover a lot, partially because said hopes and dreams are BIG, and partially because we don’t yet have the brick-and-mortar space to be able to showcase everything in one place. What it really boils down to though is that we are in the business of sustainable service to people. That can be hard to define because people are unique, and our approach to each service or event is as unique as the people we serve.

Trying to reduce that down to any one part of the whole is a challenge, especially when we’re the kind of people that believe that what we’re really building is a community and a culture- not a business. Communities are complex and cover a lot of things: so do we.

One of the services we currently offer, will continue to offer as we develop our event venue is helping you design your wedding space. Part of how we do that is by working with couples to create things that can be used as part of your wedding day, but also serve a purpose afterwards. This can be as simple as being home decor you actually like but can also include functional home pieces. It is one of the things I love most about what we do. Sustainable Weddings and events are kind of our thing.

The “Throw Away” Problem: Why Sustainable Weddings Are Important

One great way to reduce the impact of hosting a wedding is to forgo single use culture. The number of friends I knew that had to do the “post-wedding purge” or dump run, genuinely blew my mind. The amount of décor for a wedding day vibe that gets thrown away a day later is just mind boggling. Thus, this part of our event services was born.

The “Heirloom Pieces” Solution

So how do you create an elevated, personalized, intentional setting without all the throw away? By making it truly personal. Make sure that the theme and décor are reflective of you and your partner. Select pieces that have functional longevity. Creating sustainable weddings just requires a bit more intentionality, but it can frequently save you money in addition to helping the planet.

We help couples choose, design, and create things that are functional later in life. This can either be for you and your partner or for your guests depending on your needs. If creativity is not your strong suit- this is where we come in. We talk to you about your theme or style, your budget, lifestyle and living space, and your goals. Then, we design pieces that elevate your wedding day décor with unmatched attention to detail and a focus on sustainability.

Do you want something that can be repurposed into something else? We do that. Maybe you want something that is immediately usable as home décor afterwards. We do that. Maybe you want something that you canpass down to your kids as a family heirloom? No need to pressure them to wear your gown. We do that. Whatever it is- you want it to reflect who you are as a couple. And you certainly want it to be memorable for your guests and look professional.

What does this look like?

If we can’t be involved in curating the sustainable wedding celebration of your dreams, or if you’re more of a DIY’er, we can still help. Below are some ideas of what this can look like so you can get your own creative juices flowing. Some of these require design and crafting, but a number of them just require an intentional vision and a little planning.

Custom Designed Heirloom Frames:

During the wedding, the frames were used for all signage and some photos. The couple later used them to hang their wedding photos around their house since they matched their style of decor.

Custom Heirloom Guest Book

Our couple wanted a guest book that would also be their wedding album. They wanted enough space left in it to become a scrapbook for all the things they would do together in life later. This ensured it didn’t just sit on a shelf somewhere and would instead be looked back on and updated regularly.

The guest book portion we scrapbooked with selected pictures of the couple and on-theme pieces so guests could sign around them. Then they had the remainder of the book to fill out with their lives as they move forward.

Custom Heirloom Lanterns

One of our favorites was an evening wedding in the woods. We designed a set of lanterns spilling with moss, ferns, and mushrooms with little LED candles. The bride’s maids carried these in lieu of flowers. it looked stunning in the ceremony and the bridesmaids got to keep them afterwards (it was a very tight-knit group of friends that all had very similar style).

Garden Centerpieces

One of our couples was really into gardening and they were having an outdoor garden party themed wedding. We sourced local handmade garden stakes shaped like mushrooms and butterflies as part of their centerpieces. The bride now has them in her garden at home. She also requested garden gnomes hidden around the venue that are now in her garden as well.

Thrifted Colored Carnival Glass Pieces

This couple was having a 70’s themed wedding and they wanted LOTS of color. The bride loved antiquing and owned a small collection of colored glass cups that they were using for the head table. We got to enjoy the challenge of finding more pieces exclusively from second hand stores. Pieces ranged from vases and candle holders to serving dishes and trivets. These were used for centerpieces and tableware that fit the couple’s home décor so they could use them afterwards.

Thrifted Period Furniture

One of my favorites was a bride that wanted antique style bridal portraits and a sitting space for her guests to take elegant and elevated photos. Very Edwardian style. We found an amazing settee at a thrift store and were able to design a “private photo area.” It reused a piece of furniture, and the couple now has a permanent piece of their wedding in their living room!

Collectible Cake Toppers

Forget the plastic “I do” word or the generic bride and groom statues. We love when couples request things they collect so they can save them forever. Everything from pez dispensers, pocket dragons, and smurfs, to precious moments statues and Disney collectibles. This is a great subtle way to show style and personality without having to necessarily commit to a full theme.

Dress trimmings

This sounds weird. But, almost all wedding gowns need to be altered to fit properly and that almost always involves a hem. Don’t throw your fabric away. Partner with a seamstress to have scrunchies or bows made so you can keep a usable piece of your dress even if you don’t keep your gown.

If you are a Washington local- especially in the Skagit Valley area, we highly recommend the team at The Town Seamstress. This is something Kristin and her team offer as part of their regular services.

Custom Shoes

There are a number of ways to do this, and it may sound out of place on a decor list. But working in bridal alterations, I learned some things. It shocked me the number of ladies that go out and buy “bridal shoes” that aren’t particularly comfortable, or close to their usualy style just to fit a perfect vibe the day of, and then never wear them again.

We have now helped two brides take plain elegant white/ ivory shoes and add a little pizzaz too them so that they showed some personality. My favorite pair was a set of white ballet flats that we embroidered little vines and wild flowers along the edges of.

Decorative Fabric Recycled Clothing

This was by far one of the most abstract and cool things we’ve ever had a couple request. They had fabric draped in trees with flower garlands and they didn’t want to throw away the fabric afterwards. We turned the fabric into a skirt and matching vest for the couple that they can wear whenever they want (they wanted to be able to wear them for anniversaries and we think this is just adorable).

Heriloom Guestbook Ornaments

We had a couple that really loved Christmas. They planned a winter wedding, and wanted to keep everything in natural woods and deep ever greens; as rustic and woody as possible (very Scandanavian/ Nordic style). Instead of a guestbook we placed little flat wooden ornaments at each place setting with the request that each guest sign one and write a little blessing or piece of advice for the couple. At the end of the night we collected them and now the bride and groom have fun looking at them every year when they put up their tree.

Silk Flower Chandeliers

While we prefer realy flowers 90% of the time, silk flowers have a time and a place when used correctly. We’ve had several brides request fake flowers for ceiling décor day of. This prevents all chances of wilting and falling apart, and they make great “chandeliers” as decor at home afterwards.

Custom Candle Centerpieces

You can go any direction or theme with these. We’ve both seen and done them many ways. White candles with flowers, colored candles, carved candles. tapers, pillars, a mix of both. When the day is done- blow them out, take them home, and burn through them slowly. I’ve even seen them used as party favors afterwards.

Quirky planters

The couple really loved house plants because they didn’t have a yard. Their venue was a ballroom with minimal décor and they didn’t want to have cut flowers that would wilt and need to be thrown away. We sourced a mix of thrifted planters from small businesses in their wedding colors and filled them with a variety of cat-safe houseplants (which was very important to them). These became centerpieces and décor around the ballroom, making for an unconventional but much more “alive” space than before; and the couple got to take their plants home at the end of the day.

Curated China

Have a micro wedding? One couple asked us to help them find a specific aesthetic of china for a tiny but luxurious evening dinner wedding so that they could keep the dishes and make that their nice set that they could eventually pass down to their children since neither of them had any family that they would inherit that kind of thing from. The phrase the couple used to describe what they were looking for was ‘old money mobster’, and honestly- it was kind of perfect.

Harry Potter themed hanging chandeliers/ mobiles.

One for each guest table hung from the ceiling. The couple wanted to match the theme of their wedding but have something they could hang in the children’s bedroom someday as they knew they wanted kids. It was important to them to design them to be more like fine-art as a way to elevate their wedding. No one could possibly ever call their day juvenile. This event was honestly a fantasy lovers gothic evening dream- not a party city vibe anywhere in site.

Crystalized book art

At the groom’s request, we crystalized a hardcover, thrifted copy of his favorite book, in borax; and then turned it into a centerpiece for the head table. He’d seen the idea on Pinterest and thought it looked really cool but didn’t have time to try and create one himself. He wanted to keep it as art for the shelf in his study after their wedding. This project always makes me smile because I felt a bit like I was creating real magic at the time- my inner alchemist had a blast.

The Point

The possibilities are endless, and these are just some of our favorite requests, ideas, and previous projects. The overarching important thing is how possible it is to create a memorable day and experience, while still minimizing the impact on the planet and reducing how much you throw away as a by-product of your celebration in a way that allows you to hold on to the magic of the day for a long time afterwards.

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with creating a stunning, intentional, visually magical experience for your wedding day. You can have beautiful decor and add personal touches and little flourishes. We want you too. That’s what weddings are supposed to be: intentional, meaningful, personal, reflective of your relationship.

Designing sustainable weddings doesn’t mean you have to forgo all of the little extras and details. What’s important is to make sure that things aren’t done needlessly or wastefully, and doesn’t add to the “single use” problem. Go for things that have overlapping or adaptable uses, and things that you will cherish for the rest of your life, or at least the rest of the objects life if it’s something that can wear out.

Reach Out About Designing Sustainable Weddings

Have ideas or inquiries? Leave a comment, visit our services page, or us the “contact us” page to reach out! If you are trying to plan sustainable weddings nd are a washington resident we also always highly recommend looking into or working with a company like Emerald Hour to find other vendors that commit to eco-friendly practices.

All the best,

Mikaela

Gardening is fantastic. I myself have a bit of a green thumb. If you are a gardener, I would hazard a guess that you like being outdoors and don’t have a problem with dirt. Maybe you like to go on walks or hikes? Have you considered marrying your two loves and trying wild plant foraging? This is one of those activities that seems daunting to start… especially in the city or someplace like Arizona that you feel doesn’t have a lot (trust me- I know). But, like any other activity, it is easy to start small and expand later if you do not overcomplicate it.

Today I want to go over 5 basic tools to get and how to take your first steps in foraging. Not comparing brands or getting into recipes… just the basics so you have a starting point.

5 BASIC TOOLS OF THE TRADE

Field Guide

The first thing to buy is a LOCAL field guide. I want to stress this again… LOCAL. There are so many field guides out there and some are great for general reference but for ease AND for safety, it is best to get one that specifically focuses on your local flora. Many plants have look-a-likes that can be dangerous to ingest or handle and there are so many varieties of mushrooms, for example, that a general guide may not be specific enough to cover those found in your area. Additionally, if you are reading a local guide, it will help narrow down what you realistically looking for.

Gloves

This also seems fairly straight forward but you will want a high quality, good fitting pair of gloves. These will help you deal with prickers, stickers, and thorns, but additionally consider that some plants out there can cause skin irritation and even if you are not collecting said toxic plant, your target may be near it. I prefer to stick to lighter, breathable gloves for ease of movement but those do sometimes mean less protection from larger stickers or the cold from snow. Consider when and where you will be foraging and maybe go for something more heavy duty if you will be foraging in the winter or from some angry fruit bearing berry bushes.

A Knife/ Pruning Shears

This category can be big or little. Maybe you are a one knife person, or you like to have some variety and pack a couple. It is definitely a preference thing. I prefer to have a couple and use different tools for different jobs, but I also now live someplace where there is a LOT I can forage for a lot of different purposes. I have a couple favorites. The curved foraging knives that have a metal bristle brush on one end. The come as cheap or as expensive on Amazone as you want, fold for convenience, and the brush can be used to clean dirt off a harvested item. Hori Hori knives are my go-to as it can also double as a trowel, and some have notches for measuring as well. Garden pruning shears are also a huge help when foraging for twigs, branches, bark… you get the point. No matter what sharp, pointy objects you decide on, I would recommend investing in good quality ones earlier in your foraging career than later. They will hold an edge better and keep you from getting frustrated with blunt instruments.

Shovel

Some plants you forage not for what is above the ground, but instead what is below. Tubers, roots, etc all require a bit of digging and using a shovel will save your poor hands even if you are wearing gloves. You are more than happy to lug around a full sized one but I find that folding shovel is more than enough for me in most cases and it is small enough to fit in me backpack.

Foraging/Collection Containers

There are sooooooo many options to choose from for containers to use for foraging and each site you visit will promote a different one. I am going to say that I like to have a variety on me even though it may take a while to build up a collection. Here is why though. Things that will be easily crushed need to go in something that will protect them; wicker baskets can work for this. Items that are maybe muddy or do best staying moist while you are collecting do best in something waxed or a plastic, 5-gallon bucket. If you are collecting mushrooms, I would promote using a mesh bag or something similar so that as you walk, the spores can fall out, spread, and more will regrow in that area. You can also consider smaller bags like ziploc’s, jars, backpacks, foraging aprons, etc. I sewed foraging cloaks (would call it an apron but it has a hood) but take along a couple jars, some plastic bags, a mesh bag for mushrooms, a couple glass vials, some newspaper for wrapping things separately, a Tupperware, my backpack, and a 5 gallon bucket (depending on the trip and season). This is because I collect a variety of items for different purposes and not all of them are edible and some are more fragile than others. I have even used my quiver for sticks instead of arrows since I wasn’t actively using it for archery.

TAKING YOUR FIRST STEPS

Once you have a few tools, here are the first steps I would advise in to get you started.

Find a local foraging group.

This really isn’t necessary but there are a couple reasons I would recommend it. First of all, knowledge is power, and the local foraging community will have tips and tricks about the local plants, where to go, things to look out for etc. Second, you may find a new friend to go foraging with and having someone with you if you are hiking in remote areas is not a bad idea. Having someone more experienced with you when you get started will give you a leg up and it often lessens the anxiety of a new experience if you know someone is there to catch what you may miss or correct a misidentified flower.

Decide on what you are looking for.

Start looking through your guide and decide on what you want to forage for. Are you looking for roots, mushrooms, berries? Maybe herbs for teas? Or maybe you are crafty and looking for natural dyes and bits for alternative arts. I usually look for berries, herbs, and mushrooms but will also press leaves and flowers and collect skulls, bones, feathers, dad insects etc for art and other things. Recently I have gotten interested in natural dyes and pretty much anything can be used for that if you like to experiment with colors and mordants. The point is… the trail is the limit. If you find it overwhelming, it may be easier at the beginning to start with 1 or 2 things you are actively looking for but don’t limit yourself.

Decide on where you will be foraging.

Think about where you want to forage and prepare accordingly. Safety first. If you are more interested in urban foraging (like in Seattle where you can pick berries that grow like weeds in even the most urban trails and parks), think about having reflective gear and the like but you can maybe pack a little lighter. If you are going on a mountain trail, prepare like you would for any other safe hike and consider heavier duty gloves, shoes etc. Mostly I just want you to be prepared and cognizant of where you are. On this note… please do not trespass. I know someone who literally breaks into an area or the train tracks that are blocked off because the mushrooms are everywhere and while the mushrooms are very delicious, I worry about the day that he either gets caught or injured.  

Get your good-looking self, outside to forage, learn, and have fun!

Happy Foraging!

Taylor Lasley

Let’s go back to debunking the idea that bread is hard. It’s the end of February, which means everything is rainy and wet here- so I’ve been on a bit of a bread making kick. One thing I will always stay adamant about is that baking bread isn’t as hard as a lot of people now believe it is. So today I want to share a recipe for Ciabatta.

Once you understand the basic chemistry behind bread, it’s really quite easy. It’s a bit like a good relationship: If you pay attention to what you’re doing, you can’t really do it wrong. If you haven’t seen our Bread 101 post you can find it here– this will point you in the right direction for all the basics of bread.

Ciabatta is one of my favorite breads and ironically a type that a lot of people I talk to seem to think is more complicated to make. It’s not. In the recipe below I’ll give you two variations of it. One is a fresh style with no preferment if you’re short on time or not quite sure on sourdoughs (though I would strongly urge you to check out our post on sourdough, because again, it’s not as hard as it sounds). The other is a sourdough ciabatta because sourdough is king. Let’s get right to it.

Mis En Place (Get Your Shit, and Get it Together)

Fresh Dough Ciabatta

• 1 tsp instant yeast
• 240 grams of warm water (roughly 92 degrees), water should not be hot enough to hurt or it will kill your yeast.
• 300 grams All Purpose Flour, sifted
• 1 tsp of kosher salt

Sour Dough Ciabatta

• 1 Cup Active Starter
• 350 grams All Purpose Flour, sifted
• 225 g of warm water
• 1 tsp of kosher salt

Other Items Needed

• Olive Oil, As Needed
• Metal baking sheet
• Parchment Paper
• A spray bottle with water

Directions for Ciabatta

Fermenting

1. For the fresh method: combine water and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer and let sit 5 minutes. For the sourdough method: add 1 cup of the flour to the starter in the bowl of a stand mixer and let sit for 5 minutes. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP FOR EITHER VARIATION.
2. Combine Flour and salt with yeast mixture and mix on low for 2-4 minutes to allow gluten to begin forming. Mixture will create a loose, VERY wet dough. Continue folding until no clumps of flour remain and wet dough is mostly smooth. (Dough is at roughly 80% hydration so don’t be alarmed that its loose- that’s intentional).

Rissing

1. Lightly grease a large bowl with olive oil and transfer ciabatta dough into it. Cover with a fitted lid (or plastic wrap) and let sit at room temperature for 1 hour. Remember the warmer the room is the faster the fermentation will happen (the quicker the rise).
2. Stretch and fold. We’re going to repeat this process 3 times. It will take about an hour and a half total. For each stretch and fold, get some oil or water on your hands to prevent sticking. I prefer olive oil, but water works just fine too. Do not use canola or vegetable oil as it messes with the flavor and will give the crust a funny texture.
   • With wet or greased hands, gently stretch and fold the dough every 30ish minutes by lifting carefully from each side and pulling the dough to the middle, one side at a time.
   • By the end of your stretches and folds the dough should have roughly doubled in size.

Shaping

1. Transfer to a floured surface. Dough with be sticky, but this is what we want. Using gentle fingers, tuck the ends and sides in until you have a loosely rectangular shape, being careful to not squeeze out air cells. Use a knife or bench scraper and cut the dough into two or four equal pieces.
   • 4 will yield sandwich size loaves.
   • 2 will yield larger traiditonal loaves.
2. Repeating the beginning part of step 5, shape each portion of dough gently into a rectangle and transfer to a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Very lightly, sprinkle top of each loaf with flour and cover with a tea towel. Then set aside and let rest 30-40 minutes.

Baking

1. Preheat oven to 420 degrees. Fill a large baking dish with water and place it in the bottom of your oven (bottom rack). Close the oven and let it fill with steam while it preheats.
2. When the oven is preheated and the dough ready to go in, slide the sheet tray directly in the oven and spray with water immediately. Close oven and set a timer for twenty minutes.
3. Check for doneness (bottom of loaf will sound hollow when tapped with a knuckle).
4. Remove ciabatta from oven, transfer to a cooling rack, and let cool 90% of the way before giving in to temptation and slicing. DO NOT SKIP THE COOLING STEP. YOUR GLUTEN AND AIR CELLS NEED TO SET. I know it’s hard, but you did not spend hours baking bread to ruin it at the last moment.

Have fun! Let us know how it goes!

Happy Baking,

Mikaela

Happy Friday! With bridal season starting back up, and us working on a few events for this year, sustainable event planning has been on the forefront of our mind lately. Event hosting (especially weddings) can be a big source of waste if we’re not mindful. In many cases, things are purchased, used once, and discarded. Its never sat well with us, and that’s part of the idea behind the kind of events that RavenWerks wants to host. Today we want to share ways to help you plan a more sustainable wedding.

The Green Bride Guide states that the average wedding produces 400 lbs of garbage and 63 tons of CO2. With an estimated 2.5 million weddings per year, that is about 1 billion lbs of trash and as many emissions as approximately 4 people would produce in a year, in just one single day (link).

Consider Reusable Décor

This can mean a lot of things. You could go the route of renting, which means it doesn’t end up in a landfill, and you don’t have to store it afterwards. There are a lot of different services out there that provide linens and specialty dishware as well as other things.

If you have a very niche theme, this can seem more intimidating, but don’t let that deter you. You can do a lot if you’re creative enough. If you’re a Washington local you can also reach out to us, that’s kind of what we do. We love to help create custom events for alternative décor styles and take the stress off of you. You can learn more about that process (here).

Create Legacy Pieces

Another idea in this area is to choose décor that you can reuse in your home later. As an example, I planned on reusing all the frames we made for my wedding to display our wedding photos in our home. It worked out really well, and I now have a really unique collage full of memorabilia. We turned the silk flowers we used for part of our decor into a chandelier in our dining room. My gnomes are now in my garden, and my D&D dice are, well, my D&D dice. A more sustainable wedding doesn’t have to mean that you skip out on creating an intentional experience.

Donating Decor

You can also donate your wedding décor if it’s something that isn’t name specific. Thrift stores are always an option. But a lot of wedding planning companies also take donations to help them build their inventory of what they can offer to others. You just need to find a planner/ rental company that matches your style of décor. If you have décor that matches their style you can support a small business and keep things out of landfills. If you’d like to donate, you can reach out to us at info@ravenwerksguild.com.

Hire Sustainable vendors

Your vendors and the people helping you on wedding day are a huge factor in how much waste is produced. Talk to your vendors as you book about what their practices are like (I know, it’s one more thing to consider, but it’s worth it). Some states and areas even have vendor groups of companies that are vetted. Zola and the Knot have a filter you can use if you are using a service. If you’re a Washingtonian, check out Emerald Hour Wedding Society, they offer amazing information.

In some ways, the easiest thing you can do to plan a more sustainable wedding is hire vendors that have practices in place, as that is where the bulk of wedding waste is.

Let your Bridesmaids/ Groomsmen Thrift their Attire

This can be harder to do for groomsmen depending on your style. However, where possible I highly recommend it. Another back up is to rent it, especially if you’re going more formal. This is one of the simplest things you can do on this list.

The days of mandatory matching dresses are over. Many modern weddings opt to have bridesmaids all wear different dresses in the same color or color palette. With the way the fast fashion industry contributes to ladfills and carbon emissions, I strongly urge brides to let their bridesmaid’s thrift or buy consignment for their gowns. Being a bridesmaid can be expensive and that can be hard for friends; even if your best friend wants to help on your big day. Allowing your friends to thrift their clothing can also make things less stressful for them. It can also make for a fun wedding activity to do together.

This helps merge a more sustainable wedding with a touch of individuality. AND it ensures that each of your bridesmaids will get to wear something that they feel comfortable and good about themselves in. Very few things are worse than being forced into clothing that makes you feel exposed or bad about yourself for hours on end in front of lots of people. Especially when you KNOW pictures are going to be taken that will probably be on someones wall for all time.

Shop Consignment for Your Wedding Gown.

Don’t freak. I know that for some people and cultural groups there are superstitions around this (mine included because I had to have this conversation with my mom). But consider for a moment the environmental fallout from how many wedding dresses are thrown away every year. It’s momunmental the number of dresses that are purchased to be worn once and never put on again. There are also the millions of dresses that never get purchased, and get discarded.

Consignment is not what many people think it is. Many consignment boutiques do carry local consignment (dresses that have been worn by brides and then consigned). These dresses are vetted thoroughly for condition, style, and quality. Additionally, most consignment boutiques mostly carry over stock and discontinued sample dresses. Meaning they are typically only a year old and have never been in an actual wedding, just a show room floor.

This is not only a way for you to help keep something out of a landfill, and support a small business, but also save money planning your wedding. Most consignment bridal shops are selling 20-40% off original retail. You can always tweak your dress in alterations and then you still get the option of keeping your dress after, or consigning it back if you want to recoupe some money.

In Washington, we love Astraea Bridal in Mt Vernon (we’re biased, that’s where I bought my dress and sometimes help out at). Laura, Leslie, and Megan really know what their doing and create an amazing personalized experiences that really make you feel comfortable and safe. We’ve also heard great things about Brides for a Cause in Seattle, if you’re more in that area.

Consider your paper waste

Is all the paper necessary? Do you need a program, and place holders, and a pamphlet about the bridal party? Pare down what isn’t applicable to you. It’s always been weird to us that in a world where we understand that we use far too much paper, we still hold on to certain wasteful practices in the name of tradition. Companies like Zola and the Knot also allow you to have people RSVP online. This not only saves you from having to manually count and keep track of your answers, it also eliminates RSVP cards.

What stationery you do need, go for natural fibers and recyclable material. Or consider compostable materials and seed papers. They are still high quality, and heavier weight papers, but without as negative of an impact to the environment. Planning a sustainable wedding doesn’t have to mean that you use NO paper, just be smart about what you choose.

Transportation and Venue

A seemingly smaller thing to consider is cutting down your guest list if possible. This reduces your costs, but also the per capita waste on every single thing in your wedding. Less food, less party favors, less paper products etc.

Another thing is to have your ceremony and reception in the same place if you’re not getting married in a church or religious building. This cuts down on carbon emissions from having to shuffle everyone around (and saves you from having to organize transportation as an added bonus).

Tackle Your Registry with Intentionality

While some very established couples choose to forgo a registry altogether, being environmentally conscious and choosing to plan a more sustainable wedding, doesn’t mean you have to. There a number of things you can do to make this more eco-forward.

Look into a company like Everlastly. This company offers more traditional wedding registry items for couples that still need the more traditional things. However, they are sustainably made, transparently rated, and vetted through a process designed to promote honesty from vendors. We love them.

You should also consider what you need and what you don’t, and talk to your guests. We know that talking to people about asking for gifts is an uncomfortable topic for a lot of people, we totally get it. But it doesn’t have to be if done with authenticity.

A lot of people will just buy something from the traditional wedding gift list if they aren’t sure what to do. When putting your registry together consider things in your life that you really want or need. Many online registries will allow you to open group gifts so people can contribute to something bigger that you may need instead of a butter dish that you only pull out once when they’re over.

Consider what your goals are as a couple.

If you both decide you don’t really need anything, be transparent with your guests about that. “We don’t really need more stuff, your presence is all we need. However if you really want to contribute to the start of our next step ________blank is really important to us and we’re saving for __________.” Maybe you’re both working to pay off student loans, or purchase a home. Maybe you haven’t taken a trip in forever and you’d really love to take a special trip. Letting guests that want to give you something for your wedding, contribute to something bigger that is important to the two of you is a perfectly acceptable thing to do.

Consider your Flowers

There are two different approaches to this. One is to go the Wooden flowers route then you have a unique way to keep and preserve your flowers. If you’re like me and still just want the simplicity of natural flowers, the other option is to make sure that you are picking local, in season florals. This is better for the natural grow cycle, supports local business, and cuts down on CO2 emissions as the travel for transport of imported flowers is eliminated. This in part comes back to your vendors. Have a conversation with your florist about where they get their product from and who their suppliers are.

If you go the second route, then they are either compostable, organic material, which goes right back to mother earth or you can have them dried or preserved if you’re more of a memorabilia person.

Dinner Ware

Depending on your style, this might have a bit of overlap with “vendors”, however, it bears mentioning.

If you are having a more formal get together, consider renting dishes or see if your venue will provide them. We’ve seen a few people do the thrifted unique dishes as well which is really quirky depending on your theme, and what your plan for them afterwards is.

If you’re having an outside wedding, or something a bit more laid back (but still nice and put together), opt for compostable dishes over regular disposable paper or plastic. Many paper plates aren’t compostable or recyclable because of the coating on them. Plastic ware finds itself in the same boat. Compostables have come a long way and there are a number of different styles and types available that range from uber casual to natural or more polished looking. You can even buy them on amazon if you aren’t sure where to start.

Consider your Wedding Favors

Many couples are choosing to forgo this part of a wedding altogether, and we’re totally here for simplifying and minimizing the consumer behemoth that has become commercialized weddings.

However, my inner Hobbit’s need for elevated hospitality completely understands the decision to cut a different part of the wedding in favor thanking my guests. At the same time, it’s silly to waste your money on something that honestly nobody needs, will cost you money, and end up in a landfill (we’re talking to you overpriced bride and groom wineglass. We don’t really need dinnerware with someone else’s name on it).

There are some really unique and environmentally friendly ways to express gratitude to your guests for coming. Put your heads together for something inexpensive that is reflective of you, and the authenticity will make it mean more to your guests as well. If it’s handmade or edible- even better.

A Few Favorites We’ve Seen

• Miniature loose leaf local teas with honey sticks
• Reuseable aromatherapy heat packs
• Little wooden Ornaments
• Custom Cookies
• Hand rolled candles.
• A print of the bride and grooms favorite picture with each of the guests (these we’re printed at Walgreens with a little note. We’ve also seen a variation of this done as a cool thank you note- the bride and groom’s favorite picture from their wedding with each guest for their thank you cards).
• Chocolate truffles
• Homemade preserves
• Tiny soaps
• Little succulents
• Sample jars of honey
• Sample bags of coffee
• Homemade bird seed ornaments
• Little air plants
• Pet rocks (this sounds bizarre but it was weirdly adorable and people were tickled)
• Evergreen seedlings

Rethink Your Send Off

If you’re doing a formal send off or goodbye, there are a couple versions we wish people would skip for various reasons. Please don’t use rice. Despite being biodegradable, birds eat it and it’s really terrible for them, it can even kill them. Skip the glitter and plastic confetti. Quite frankly, glitter is an abomination and people shouldn’t use it for anything. A quick google search will reveal the tip of the iceberg where the hazards of microplastics are concerned, but the far reaching consequences of them goes even deeper.

Try opting instead for dried flowers like lavender, or jasmine. Paper confetti is also an option if you get a compostable or non-acidic type. We’ve seen bird seed used and we also knew a couple that had a wedding in the fall and hole punched dried leaves for confetti, which was really unique.

In Our Opinion

Weddings should be intentional, personal, and unique. While yes, you are hosting an event you are also celebrating a major life-decision, step, and life long commitment. You are celebrating your relationship with your best friend and partner. There are so many possibilities and ways to make things unique even on a budget. As passionate about that as we are, we truly don’t believe that doing that requires us to sacrifice on our ethics, or the environment.

These are our favorite ways to incorporate sustainability into planning a beautiful wedding (that will hopefully take some of the strain off your pocketbook as well). This list is by no means comprehensive, and we’d love to hear your ideas as well. You never know who else you could help (and of course the planet). We’re constantly striving to improve our services and the way we do business. Collaboration and education is a big part of that.  Let us know if there is something else people can do to lessen the environmental impact that hosting a wedding can have.

All the best, Always,

Mikaela

A bigger lie was never told to the American population than how they should and shouldn’t eat. Yes, I know- this is coming from someone who claims to love food science. And I do. It is precisely that reason that the American Food Chain System frustrates me so much. Today I want to talk about having a healthier food lifestyle.

There is so much misinformation out there about what ingredients are good, which are bad, what will help you shed weight quickly, what will balance your gut bacteria, etc. that its easy to get lost in the ‘data’ if you’re not paying attention and you’re not an informed consumer.

This misinformation changes so constantly that it shouldn’t be surprising how many people have little to no idea what they’re putting in their bodies. It is politisized, capitalized, and propaganda’ed to death. Which leads to swaths of people with eating disorders, malnutrition problems, and a great many other issues. Today we’re going to cut through all the red tape. This is a political, propaganda free space. Below is a list of 7 things that I use as pillars in my dietary choices to have a healthier food lifestyle.

Disclaimer

This is one of those topics that I can end up on a soap box about and by the end of the soap box people are reminding me to breathe when I talk. You’ve heard me talk a bit about this in our post on Kitchen Sustainability and Nutritional Paradigms and I’m excited to dive deeper. I get passionate about a number of food topics and this one is right up there with people cutting any form of filled doughnut in half. I could spend hours, days and even weeks talking about all the different levels and complexities of the American food system. In fact, I plan too. That’s kind of the whole point. But today, at least, I wanted to give you a brief overview of my overall stance on food, so that as we build on topics, you know where I’m coming from.

You don’t have to agree with me, in fact, I’m hoping some of you won’t because I love discussions. Much of what I currently believe has come from discussions with other people in conjunction with my own experiences and learning- my views are much different than they were when I was younger. All I ask, is that you come in with an open mind. Afterall, these are my opinions and experiences, and I’m sure my experiences will differ somewhat from yours.

I’m Not a Doctor- What I am sharing is My Opinion Based on My Experience and Education

The easiest thing to do is tell you what I believe, and why. From there we can build on and discuss different areas in depth in the coming months. As I have said previously, I am not a doctor– and for any topic specific, truly in-depth medical advice, I would urge you to talk to a doctor and nutritionist/ dietician (I did). But I believe we are smarter as a community when there is collaboration and I see no harm in sharing baselines and guidelines.

At my core, my food beliefs are simple and few, and I will try to pass it on that way as I think most things in life are easiest to adopt when kept simple. I think most people would have a better overall quality of life if they had a healthier food lifestyle. And we’re all about quality of life here.

A Healthier Food Lifestyle Means Everything in moderation

This applies to all my other opinions/ beliefs on this list as well. Heck, it’s solid life advice. Even when you make a less than perfect choice, its not a huge deal if you do not overindulge. It removes much of the pressure, and I never want someone to feel pressure or stress when eating. Also, you can have too much of even the ‘healthy’ things, which makes them not so healthy. In everything- moderation is key. So many times its not a matter of good food vs bad food but too much or too little. A healthier food lifestyle is about balance!

There Are No Bad Foods In A Healthier Food Lifestyle

This is a more complex concept and people tend to balk at this. There are things that are less healthy, there are things you should reach for first. There are things I try to minimize in my life or avoid 99% of the time. A healthier food lifestyle cannot exist in an environment where we are vilifying foods and food parts.

Food is fuel. Carbs are not bad. Fat is not bad. Chocolate is not bad. Gluten is not bad. Sugar is not bad. Things in EXCESS are bad. Is there a right way to eat carbs/gluten/sugar/fat etc.? You betcha. Are there specific individuals who due to allergies/medical conditions/ etc. need to avoid certain things? Yes, myself included. But that does not rule those categories out for everyone. Blanket bans on foods are a red flag for me. When we get into marketing, food psychology, and fad diets- you’ll see what I mean.

Erase the Word Diet From Your Vocabulary

Diets suck. I do not believe in diets. The phrase ‘I’m on a diet’ or ‘I’m watching my diet’ implies temporary. It implies restriction. It usually comes with a groan, an eyeroll, or a wave of sadness over pastries left un-eaten. “Diet” is a noun, not a verb. The second you tell yourself you ‘can’t have’ something- you want it three times more.

People quit diets; and the second you stop your ‘diet’ things go back to the way they were- weight, sleep, energy levels, brain function, sex drive, etc. I don’t do diets. I believe in lifestyles, intentionality, and eating things I love. Having a healthier food lifestyle starts with consistency. And consistency requires it to be something sustainable.

There are No Shortcuts to A Healthier Food Lifestyle

This is a hill I will die on. No matter how many times I get my hopes up, time has taught me- if you want it sustainable, healthy, balanced, and attainable- there are no shortcuts. There is no magic food to make you drop pounds quickly. Quick fixes don’t exist. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, and you should run for the hills. It took time to make you the way you are today and it will take time to make you into anything else, whatever that may be.

No Two People’s Diets Are the Same, Nor Should They Be

No two people are the same, so why do we have a one size fits all approach to food historically? This is where I say- talk to an expert. Learn what’s right for YOU. And WHY those choices are right for you. When you know WHY you’re doing what you’re doing- it’s a lot easier to do. I personally also believe this would eliminate 60% of fad diet crazes.

Ever heard “My cousin _______ has been doing keto and she lost like 50 pounds, maybe you should try that.” Or my personal favorite “you really should go gluten free, it would help with ______” 2000 years of mankind eating bread as a staple of our diet and all of a sudden EVERYBODY thinks gluten is satan’s favorite food. The gluten isn’t the problem, but we’ll get to that. Are some people gluten intolerant? Absolutely, but not everybody is. See where I’m going with this? A Healthier food lifestyle requires acknowledging your body as a unique individual, learning what those uniques individual needs are, and listening to them.

Whole Foods

Taking into consideration “everything in moderation” and “There are no bad foods”, I still reach for whole foods as often as I can because those are the best options for me. This is the difference between Food and Edible Food Products. Bell pepper= food. Oreos= Edible Food Product. I still pick up Oreo’s from time to time, but I try to go 90/10 in favor of foods that are exactly the way nature made them. Whole grain vs white bread, macaroni from scratch vs the kraft box.

My rule of thumb is: If I can’t say it- don’t eat it. If I don’t know what it is- don’t eat it. It’s not as hard as it sounds. I would rather you take pleasure from time to time in a homemade cheesecake or the extra queso you made from scratch to go with your burrito bowl than eat the box of hamburger helper or the prepackaged ‘dietary’ TV dinner (yes, I mean even the ‘healthy’ ones.).

So many people think they already have a healthier food lifestyle because they’re picking up the SmartOne instead of the Kraft Mac n Cheese. But the truth is- if you read the ingredients tab, they’re still loaded with things that aren’t meant to be in your body; they’re just low calorie or carb balanced (we’ll get to food marketing later because that’s a whole different animal).

Remember to Not Food Shame

Edible food products aren’t evil and can be enjoyed, I’m a terrible sucker for Girl Scout Cookies, They are in season and I have a couple boxes of Thin Mints in the freezer and several boxes of Samoa’s, Do-si-Do’s and Tagalongs hidden in the closet where my husband can’t get to them and eat them first. The point is everything in Moderation!

Meat is Not Bad

Yes, I know that this kiiiiind of fits in with “no food is bad”. And Yes, I know I just lost some of you. BUT it’s a big enough food schism that I think it warrants its own bullet point. I’d also like to remind you that I asked for open mindedness and that these are MY beliefs. They don’t have to be yours. If you are vegetarian or vegan- I do hope you keep reading. Not only because there are still other things in this section of our blog that are of value and will still be relevant to you but also because I think these kinds of discussions are important to working on that visceral schism.

I do not have a problem inherently with vegetarianism or veganism- though again, I believe there is a right and a wrong way to do both. However, I’m never going to be offended or bothered if someone chooses to not eat meat. If eating animals or animal bi-products bothers you emotionally or morally, I can accept and respect that so long as you afford me the same courtesy.

So here’s my stance on meat vs no meat in a healthier lifestyle:

Scientifically, we as humankind are omnivores. That means you are biologically designed to eat meat AND plants. It’s why you have front sharp teeth for the tearing of meat and flat back molars for grinding and chewing plant matter. Kind of like bears or wolves. That’s why you have one stomach and the intestinal structure you do instead of a crop like a bird or 4 stomachs like a ruminate. Plant protein is physically different than animal protein, and you are genetically designed to need BOTH. I personally do not believe in arguing with the natural order of things, mother nature knows best. I also happen to like how most meat tastes.

However, I’m picky about the meat I eat. Having a healthier food lifestyle means being a responsible consumer. I’m picky about where it comes from, how the animal is raised, its quality of life while alive. I’m picky about giving thanks, and making sure to call a spade a spade. If you’re going to eat pork, acknowledge it was a pig.

Additionally, I believe in moderating meat consumption- If China alone ate the amount of meat that the U.S. does- we would need 2.5 planets just to grow the amount of corn needed to feed the cows (see also, I don’t think cows should be fed corn products in feed lots, I only buy grass fed) that’s insane. We do not need nearly as much meat as modern society has trained you to consume. The rest of the world does not consume meat at nearly the same rate that we do.

In Conclusion for My Love of Food and a Healthier Food Lifestyle

Obviously, I’m very opinionated when it comes to food. I tried to pare down my biggest beliefs in their most generic and simple ways, knowing that we have all the time in the world to peel back layers and explore specific topics. I’m very excited to get to share nutritional tidbits, debunk theories, share recipes, discuss, dive deep, and learn more with you.

If you have a passion for food like I do- I would offer one parting piece of advice. Check out the Master Class by Michael Pollan. He presents a very straight forward and impartial view of several food topics and really stretched my critical thinking muscles and challenged some of my thoughts in a fresh and respectful way. He also articulates much better than I can and said something in that class that basically covers it all in the simplest of terms better than I ever could. I’ve been keeping it in my pocket as my easy to remember sentence for talking to people but also to help me make decisions about my food throughout the day: Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly Plants.

All the best, Always.

Mikaela

Today we’re going to combine two of my favorite things: Crafting and Herbology. In light of the Imbolc Holiday I thought it would be a good time to teach you how to make Sleep Sachets. The beauty of this project is that it’s something you can easily do in the comfort of your own home. There is something therapeutic and old-worldy about working with herbs. It’s calming and I find it helps clear my mind.

Herbology

Herbology and Kitchen Witchery are one of the oldest forms of science in the world. Cultures and nations from all regions have their own herbal remedies and beliefs. Frequently lumped in with “Grandma’s Kitchen wisdom”; they are cures and concoctions that are frequently undervalued.

While modern science may have evolved past herbology in many cases, there is still much that can be done with well-placed plants. Many common ailments and issues find simple clean solutions in the kitchen that can keep you out of a doctor’s office and feeling your best. And they are easy. I promise you- it’s not complicated. Don’t let anybody make you think it’s rocket science, because its not. As you get farther into your study of plants you will discover that not only are there lots of things you can do with plants, but there are also lots of things you can say with plants.

Getting into herbology was one of the easiest things I have ever done. I was already constantly in the kitchen and loved the ‘slow food’ & ‘clean cooking’ concepts. Then I went through this period of finding out as much as I could about specific diets for certain conditions and illnesses after I got diagnosed with lupus. Educating people about their food is a strong passion of mine. Combine that with a sister that has the BIGGEST green thumb in the world- and it just seemed like a natural conclusion. But I digress…

Sleep Sachets for Dream Weaving

Some people will tell you that there is no credence behind dreams and their meanings. However, I have had just a few too many personal experiences with dream journeys to not listen when the universe is trying to tell me something.

Come on, we’ve all had those dreams where we woke up feeling like we witnessed something. Like something was trying to show you a path or point you in the right direction and you wake up going ‘huh?’ and reaching for your dream interpretation book. Then again, some dreams need no translation because you wake up saying ‘message received, loud and clear’. I’ve even had periods in my life where I dreamed in consecutive episodes and each night I got a little further into the story. I know Taylor has had similar experiences. It will be exciting in the future to get into dream interpretation with you all, but that is a project for a different day.

History of Sleep Sachets

Sleep Sachets have been common in some cultures and beliefs since the 16^th century. they were used widely throughout Europe for a variety of purposes. The aromas and energies of certain plants can help induce and maintain deep sleep, lucid dreaming, and even help relax the mind. If you’re one of those people that struggles to let go of the day’s tension to even drift off- then this is for you.

Sleep sachets are a good stepping stone because they can be both generic, and then easily built upon to personalize their influence once you know the basics.  The practice is simple: Create your sachet and then sleep with it under your pillow or in your pillowcase. You can always buy sleep sachets online from places like Etsy. However, sleep is a personal experience and as such; is one of those things that I prefer to make myself. To me, setting the intentions is the most important part.

Most of the common ingredients are things that most people keep stocked in their spice cupboard. If not, many are readily available online. If you like the personal touch like me or knowing where the plants came from- there are a few of my favorite herb shops listed below as well. This is by no means a comprehensive list- especially since in a lot of ways, Dream work, and herbology is open to some level of interpretation.

Herbals for Sleep Sachets:

Lavender:

Probably the queen of all sleep herbs, definitely the most soothing in most kitchen witch gardens. It may seem stereotypical since its modern resurgence, but there is both cultural truth and scientific truth to that. Lavender can calm anxiety, invite deep restful sleep, and ease tension and headaches. Lavender has been a cultural go-to since the Middle Ages. It’s also a great cooking herb and I frequently use it in my incense, so I always have some handy. If you are looking for sleep, Lavender is your friend.

Chamomile:

Chamomile has many medicinal properties when consumed as a tea or infusion. However, the energies and aromas are also attributed to cleansing of negative energy, purifying and calming. They have a slightly sweet apple like scent and are a great building block for sleep sachets.

Rosemary:

With a wide array of medicinal uses, and culinary uses- there is always Rosemary in my kitchen. Rosemary is used to amplify all kinds of magic as well as promote memory and protection. You can add Rosemary to amplify what you already have, but more importantly to protect you from bad dreams, and help you remember your dreams if that is something you struggle with. A member of the mint family, Rosemary is a fragrant perennial and is easy to find anywhere.

Eucalyptus:

Another plant that has its fair share of medicinal purposes, which is what makes it a staple in so many homeopathic kitchens. Eucalyptus is also known for its strong refreshing scent. A little goes a long way, but Eucalyptus has been known to stimulate the immune system, provide clarity in dreams and help induce creativity- if you are looking to add a bit of vibrancy to your resting hours.

Mug Wort:

Is one of my absolute favorite herbs. It is versatile and easy to grow should you choose to do so. Some unknowing people even consider it a weed. Since Mugwort is used in a variety of cuisines around the world it is fairly easy to find in most Natural food stores. She does contain a chemical called thujone that can induce a sense of being “high” in large quantities, as such- some people consider Mugwort to be dangerous. Mugwort aides in providing a restful nights sleep when drank as a tea or tincture, but used in a sleep sachet can also invite lucid dreaming. If you are trying to work through a particularly difficult dream sequence, using Mugwort for lucid dreaming is an excellent way to be able to affect different choices you may need to work through.

Rose Petals:

Most people associate roses with love magic, and there is something to be said for that. However different parts of the Rose flower have a myriad of uses. Roses also invoke creativity, and are again a subtle way to invite creativity into your dreams. My sister learned how to grow beautiful roses of all colors and types from my Uncle Alois when he was still alive so I usually have easy access to different colors of rose petals for different purposes. (you can also just buy rose petals at the floral section of any grocery store or buy them dried either online or from a local shop).

Herbal Shops:

I have a few herbal shops I am familiar with and really like, some of which ship nationwide if you are not sure where to start:

Happy Health High Horny Herbs:

Don’t giggle at the name, just trust me. This store is in Tempe, AZ but also ships nationwide. Their main website is Plant Pleasures (rbbotanicals.com) but you can also find them on a brief google search or on Instagram. I like their web format because you can sort different plants, resins, etc. by what you are trying to do and I think that is a great feature for beginners if you are just learning what does what.

Tenzing Momo:

For my Seattlites- this shop is a local favorite. Located in Pike’s Place they sell a lot more than just bulk herbs. I’ve never had a bad interaction there, the people are great, and it smells amazing. Not only that, but if you are looking for some instructional material (on everything from herbs to mushrooms, and a range of spirituality books), this is the place for you. These guys also ship; however if you are in the area- I highly suggest you go in person. Tenzing Momo | Tenzingmomo.com

Moddejonge’s herbals:

This woman does not ship that I know of, but I highly recommend if you are local to the Seattle area. This private shop does have limited hours (Tuesday- Saturday 12P- 5P) but I not only love the shop but the owner. She is educational, and very kind. You can find her on Facebook @ Moddejonge’s Herbals.

Reminder:

The important thing about making sleep sachets is to set your intentions as you make them. The plants themselves have set properties, yes. But never underestimate the power of energies and intentions. Magic is, in and of itself, the art of manifestation. Sleep sachets can be made from anything: Cheesecloth tied with twine or ribbon, I have a collection of small drawstring bags I have either found or were packaging for gifts, if you are really dedicated to the experience I also know a friend who sewed/ crocheted her own bag and then embroidered it to further set her intentions (plus it was fun). The possibilities are endless.

Hopefully, this helped give you some ideas, or sends you in the right direction. Please feel free to chime in, share your thoughts, or share your projects. If you’re a skagit local, you can come find us at the Mirkwood Magical Bazaar as we’re adding a new set of sleep sachett for begginers to our wares.

All the best, Always,

Mikaela

It’s baking day, and in light of the upcoming festival of Brigid I thought I would share my favorite recipe for Pulla. Traditionally a Finnish sweet bread, there are tons of variations on texture and spice blend. This one happens to be my grandmother’s. Technically, you can prep Pulla into any shape, but I was taught by braiding and I’ve always kind of stuck to that. Since Brigid is frequently associated with Braids and crosses, I somehow always associate the two.

This particular loaf is delicious with coffee, or a bit of honey or butter; not that that is particular shocking since it is traditionally eaten with coffee. It is soft and chewy with an aromatic blend of spices that will always warm my heart.

The Not So Secret of Making Pulla

In my humble opinion, what really makes your pulla next level is the quality/ type of your spices. In this case- spring for green cardamom, especially if you can get whole pods. Black cardamom will work- but green is in its own class. It take only the work of minutes to grind fresh pods into the most amazing flavor you’ve ever tasted. Bread takes hours too make correctly anyways- its worth the 3 minutes with a mortar and pestle/ molcajete. Some grocery stores now sell pods, additionally I know world market sells it and you can also get it online and from some smaller specialty stores.

But enough chat. On to the bread!

Mis en Place (Get Your Shit and Get it Together):

• 2 cups milk
• 1 Tbsp Yeast
• ¾ Cups granulated sugar
• ¼ Cup water
• 2 whole eggs, beaten lightly
• 1 Tbsp cardamom, ground
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• 7-7 ½ Cups All Purpose flour or bread flour
• ½ Cup butter, melted
• 1 egg, beaten separately for egg wash
• Baking sheet or stone wear (I am partial to stone wear as it leads to better crust).

Pulla Prodecure:

1. Begin by Scalding your milk in a small, heavy bottomed saucepan. You can scald milk in any saucepan- but its easier if its double bottomed as there is less chance of burning. You want small bubbles to be forming around the edge of the pan but not boiling. It will sometimes develop a small film on top- this is okay. Remove milk from heat. Add half of your cardamom to the milk and let it steep as it cools (this step is not necessary but definitely helps increase the flavor). Milk will need to cool to just above room temperature. Warm is okay- but hot will kill your yeast.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle (or a large bowl if you plan on mixing by hand) combine yeast with 1 tsp of the sugar. Add the warm water and let sit 5 minutes to allow the yeast to bloom. DO NOT RUSH THIS STEP.
3. Add milk, remaining sugar, remaining cardamom, eggs, and salt.
4. Begin adding flour, one cup at a time until you reach 5 cups. Let mix 1-2 minutes until mostly smooth. It is important that the dough have a few minutes to mix and develop gluten strands before you proceed to the next step, butter impedes the formation of gluten so if you add the butter to soon you will end up with tough, dense bread.
5. With the mixer still mixing, slowly pour in melted butter and continue to mix until dough is smooth and shiny. Once butter is completely absorbed, add the remaining flour ½ cup at a time until smooth again.
6. Place dough in a greased bowl and cover with a tea towel. Let sit in a warm, humid place until doubled in size (roughly 45 minutes).
7. Gently deflate and empty out onto a lightly floured surface. Break dough into 3 equal chunks.
8. Working with one third at a time, split each third into either halves or thirds again and braid in a 3 or 4 strand braid (2 chunk= 4 strand braid; 3 chunks= traditional braid).
9. Gently move braided loves to baking pans and let rise again 20 minutes.
10. Brush with egg wash.
11. Bake for 25 minutes at 375 degrees. Cool Fully before eating. Do not skip the cooling step. I know that it can be tempting to cut into a loaf of bread fresh out of the oven, and you CAN eat it still warm, but it needs to be 90% cool. This is where gluten cells solidify, air cells set, and most of your crust development occurs. Cutting bread early can leave you with collapsed, structureless, and gummy bread.

Feel Free to play with spice blends and amounts. Some people will top their Pulla with sliced almonds or include raisins or dried berries. If you’re looking for more bread tips and tricks, check out the rest of our bread 101 series here!

Have fun and go make a mess!

All the best, Always,

Mikaela

Hello Adventurer! Nice to see you back in the Guild Hall! Are you ready for our next lesson? Now that we’ve talked about world building, and we’ve discussed the benefits of D&D, as well as gone over some of our favorite beginners’ tools– it’s time to talk characters. Specifically: How to build a playable D&D Character.

Anybody can slap together a race, class, and some basic stats and run with it. But that’s not the same thing as creating a playable D&D character with depth that is believable and fun for you to interact with. We’re talking about the kind of character that your DM falls in love with and therefore can’t kill. Well, they can still kill them, it’ll just be a lot harder for them to bring themselves to do it.

Resources that will help you Build a Playable D&D Character:

D&D players handbook: we talked about this in a previous post. You can read more about it here.

Ultimate RPG Character Backstory Guide: also on that list of resources for beginners’, this is where this book is really going to be your best friend.

You and your brain.

Building a Playable D&D Character

I won’t walk you through every single step in detail because you don’t need me for that. We’re talking Nitty Gritty 4 Dimensional Characters here, Backstory, personality, believability, the whole shebang. I’ll still cover the basics, because there are some things to consider. But for an in-depth look at the races, classes etc. you will want to refer to your D&D players handbook, or your DM if it’s a homebrew campaign and you maybe have some more race options you’d like to explore.

Select your Race:

This will be the foundation of your stats and your skill set. Refer to your D&D handbook. If you are selecting a home brew race you will need to work with your DM to reference believable/ reasonable stats/ race advantages etc.

Select your Class:

if you are playing 5E your base options are barbarian, bard, cleric, druid, fighter, monk, paladin, ranger, rogue, sorcerer, warlock, wizard, blood hunter. Refer to your D&D handbook for a breakdown of each.

Choose your alignment:

this is the beginning of believability in a playable D&D Character. Some races are inclined towards certain alignments (ie dwarves: lawful good, Tiefling: Chaotic neutral) that being said you still have flexibility SO LONG AS it can be explained or rationalized by your backstory. Think about the kind of character you want to build. This selection impacts your character’s morals and decision-making process.

Alignment is an X/Y axis scenario (X: lawful, chaotic, Neutral Y: Good, Evil, Neutral). Both Axis’ have a neutral component.

• Lawful: The rules matter more to me than individuals. “The Law is hard but it is the Law.”
• Good: Other People’s well-being matters more than own. “For the Greater Good.”
• Chaotic: Individuals matter more to me than the rules. “You say rules, I say Guidelines.”
• Evil: My own wellbeing is more important than rules or the general public. “I am my own Rule.”
• Neutrals: My opinion of what is more important is on a case-by-case basis. “The Devil is in the details.”

Lawful Evil:

A lawful evil character is going to follow a strict moral code. It might be warped, sure. But they are going to follow the letter of the law just as much as a lawful good character. They’re just following their own law. Think Darth Vader or Lord Voldemort.

Lawful Good:

A lawful good character is going to follow the letter of the law for the greater good, regardless of what that means for themselves. You see this a lot with Paladin types. A good example is Captain America.

Lawful Neutral:

we do what we must. They are characterized by being bound to a code or set of rules. They may not agree with all of those rules, but they understand the necessity of following them for a functional society. The punisher is a good example of this.

Chaotic Good:

Chaotic Good characters are going to do what they believe to be right for an individual regardless of what the law says (think Robin Hood).

Chaotic Neutral:

A Chaotic Neutral Character is the essence of “I do what I want when I want as I see fit.” These characters do have moral codes and beliefs that they live by, but it is on a case-by-case basis and they take all the semantics into their account. Decisions are made at their discretion. Riddick is a great example of Chaotic Neutral.

Chaotic Evil:

In contrast, a chaotic evil character is going to say “Fuck the rules and fuck you.” The Joker.

Neutral Good:

Gandalf The Grey is a prime example of “Neutral good” in that he has a strong desire to do good and make the world a better place, but unlike a lawful good he is willing to compromise on societal correctness to do so (insert every instance in which he utilizes hobbits to achieve his long term goals), occasionally seen as unreliable but largely at the end of the day they are about balance and acknowledging that there are multiple sides to every situation and decisions are not a one size fits all.

True Neutral:

True Neutral is less common because it is harder to play than you might suspect and it’s easy to accidently slip into “Neutral Good” as the line is very fine- this is one of my favorites and I think this excerpt from Gamer’s Decide explains it best: “The True Neutral alignment represents a character who is neutral on all alignments, and does not feel strongly about good, evil, law, or chaos. They may act in their own self-interest, but they do not have a particular moral or ethical code that they follow. They may act to preserve balance or neutrality, but they are not necessarily committed to doing so.”  Geralt of Rivia is an excellent example of true neutral.

An Additional tool for this is the Save the Cat Prompt on Page 16 of the RPG backstory builder.

Choose Your Background:

Here you will also want to refer to your player handbook for the basic categories. You can also chat with your DM for a homebrew to customize something that matches your character better. Remember that this is not your backstory- it’s your background. In the vaguest of terms think of it as the style of your upbringing: Urchin vs Noble vs Criminal vs Hermit etc. each one comes with its own set of proficiencies or perks.

Spend some time thinking about this, as this is what you will build your backstory off of (or if you’re like me you already have your backstory and you’re going to pick the background that fits with it the best and gives you the proficiencies you want or are looking for.) You can use the roll technique and use some personality traits from the handbook if you want or pull your own, but this is where your characters quirks start to develop.

Arm Yourself:

Spend some time thinking about how you want your character to be involved in combat. This is heavily affected by your race and class but I have seen some unconventional blends that have worked. Its all about believability. If you are a physical fighter instead of a spell caster etc. you may want to spend some extra time in chapter 5 of the Player’s handbook as it goes into detail about different types of weapons and may give you some ideas, or templates to pull unconventional weapons from.

Write a basic backstory:

You don’t have to be an award winning novelist. Or even a good writer. I urge people to try for a paragraph or so, but I also totally get if you have an idea in your head but you aren’t an avid writer. My husband uses bullet points for the ideas he has and the things that are important to him and doesn’t bother stringing them into paragraphs. He can talk to you about his character but isn’t going to write a story.

However your brain works- write down your origin story: Who are you? Where do you come from? Why are you adventuring? What is your purpose? Who raised you? If you were making a 30 second intro clip for your character’s video game- what’s the premise?

Let’s Get Gritty:

So you have your basic build. Now let’s take basic and build it 4 dimensional. Let’s give it personality, nuance, believability, and pizazz. Nobody plays D&D to be boring- that’s what real life is for. D&D operates in the realm of possibility. Have fun. Play with it. This is how we take the basics of stats and story, and add flesh and blood until we have a playable D&D Character.

Appearance:

maybe you thought this would go in the generic section, but I want you to go beyond how tall you are, what color you hair is, and what color you are based on your dragonborn heritage. Picture your character clearly in your head.

How has their lifestyle affected their physique? Calloused hands could just as easily be from a lifetime of baking bread as they can from hefting a sword. Is your profession or background reflected in your wardrobe or jewelry? Could someone guess what you do based on your appearance or gear? What’s the likelihood of someone guessing and getting wrong? Are the little splatters of pigment on your fingertips from ink or the toxins you lace your weapons with? Do you have freckles? Identifying tattoos? What is your body language like? Do you come across cocky? Mousy? Stuffy? Intelligent? Might your appearance intimidate others or impact how villagers view you? Do you  face any biases because of your appearance?

Language:

A big portion of buidling a playable D&D character is developing parts of them that you can interact with and bring to life. How does your character speak? What’s their vocabulary like? Do they have any phrases or terms that they use regularly? This is a great way to add depth and believability to a character and make game play more fun.

A sorcerer is going to have a much different vocabulary than a soldier or a priest. Does their hometown impact their accent or their colloquialisms? Can other people tell where they are from based on their speech? Is there something that makes their vernacular unique? A fun little added tool you can use in addition to these questions is the idiom generator on page 14 of the RPG backstory guide.

Religion and Beliefs:

In addition to whatever your D&D ‘deity’ is, or two whom your character pays homage, spend some time thinking about what their beliefs are. Do they actively practice their religion or passively believe in something? How much does it affect their day to day life? Do they observe any strange or interesting holidays? A fun (though not all inclusive) prompt for holidays is on page 18 of the RPG character backstory.

Core lessons:

A good way to build out a playable D&D character is to think about all formative things your character has learned up until the start of the campaign. All real people have them. life events and lessons that have shaped how we view and interact with the world. These should be based on your characters traits and backstory but with more detail. Try for a minimum of 5. What events, choices, or traumas have they lived through that have shaped their character? An amazing set of 5 questions to help you with this is on page 26 of the RPG Character backstory Guide.

Party Preferences:

What kind of company do you keep? Obviously, you don’t get to pick what kind of characters your friends or party members choose to play, or what your DM evilly decides to do with that. BUT based on your backstory and character you should be able to describe who your character would like to adventure with, or if there is anybody your character would absolutely not do well with. It will affect how your character interacts with the other player characters as well as any NPC’s your DM cooks up.

Think about it like this: if your backstory is written around the fact that your family was murdered by a war band of goblins and another party member happens to be half goblin… you might have some prejudices or some strained interactions to work through. It will also be a factor in how you interact (or should interact) with NPC’s. remember- you are not you, you are your character. An example of this concept can be found on page 28 of the RPG character backstory guide.

Add detail to your core stats:

Sure, a barbarian is strong, but go deeper. How are you strong compared to other barbarians? How did you come to be this way? Of course a rogue is high in dexterity (if they’re a good rogue) but how might someone else be able to tell you’re dexterous, what might hint at your master thief skills? There’s a fun exercise in the RPG character guide called “Across a crowded Tavern” on page 32 that will highlight some ideas for this.

What drives you forward:

when all seems lost and things aren’t going according to plan (and they won’t). what inner strength, power, ideal, or memory pushes you to keep going. What stops your character from tapping out even when 80% of them is ready too? Check out the exercise on page 45 of the RPG book for some examples.

Create a mental snapshot of home:

what did your childhood home look like and how might that environment have impacted who your character currently is? Were you raised in a city? A village? A tribe? In a metropolis or a forest? A cave dwelling civilization? Where did you call home? where did you usually sleep? Do you miss it? Where did people socialize? What did community interaction look like? What did people respect? Who was in charge? Check out page 47 of the backstory guide for more prompts.

Creeds, mottos, and ideals:

this is different than beliefs, lessons, or idioms- even though lessons and idioms typically have meaning or deeper wisdom in them. Not a slogan, or a catch phrase (although those are equally endearing in a character- we see you Naruto). It doesn’t even necessarily have to be something your character technically excels at but rather something they hold in high esteem, a trait they aspire to, or something they believe in outside of religion. These are statements of belief outside of deities. Examples might be:

• Life is what we make it.
• We have nothing if we don’t have our morals.
• The only thing stronger than a man’s given word is his heart.
• Power is the only guarantee of freedom
• We always have a choice.
• It’ll feel better when it quits hurting.

Valuable advice:

what is the best piece of advice your character has ever received? If they could pass on any one piece of advice what would it be? Similar to creeds and mottos, but distinct in that this is something they have learned, that they live by, and act on whenever possible. A belief they hold in the livable present. Examples might include:

• When you get the chance to dance, dance.
• The man is the head of the family, but the woman is the neck and she can turn the head any way she wants.
• Tuck your chin, you’re going to get hurt, expect it and be ready.
• This too shall pass
• The friends who criticize your actions are the ones who really care about you. If they didn’t care they wouldn’t waste their breathe.
• If you love something enough, and for long enough, the rest of the world will eventually have no choice but to accept it, regardless of its original perception of it.
• All things worth having are worth working for.
• You’re always going to be “too much” of something to someone, do not dim your light for anybody.

Fears, Flaws, and weaknesses:

nobody, or character for that matter, is perfect. Even superman has kryptonite. To make a character really fun to both play, but also interact with for your DM and party members come up with a short list of “shortcomings” or flaws. They could be major or minor, or something your character is actively working on improving, extra props if at least one of them is something that your other party members can leverage.

• You snore terribly.
• You’re a dwarf that can’t hold your ale- a complete lightweight, the family doesn’t talk about it.
• You have a gambling problem
• You are a terrible cook- like give someone food poisoning bad.
• You are severely ADHD- this causes problems in combat, problems with your memory, and with everyone elses sleep schedule. You lose everything contstantly.
• You have a soft spot for strays and are always trying to “adopt” the local critters. Even when your party can’t hide them, feed them, or otherwise deal.
• You are terrified of the dark- dungeons, am I right?
• You can’t swim
• Terrible anemia
• Petrified of zombies
• Invasive thoughts with no filter. Your party does not appreciate you making your disturbing thoughts their newest fears.
• You have a crippling fear of heights.

Consider your long-term goal:

I want to leave you with an idea for character development as you go forward to create. Remember that what you are building is the base of your character. The point of D&D is to play/tell a story. Characters develop during stories. What you are making is the origin story, the idea, and the potential. But remember that your character is going to interact with others, be subject to circumstance, and hopefully have the opportunity to grow. Don’t try and create a level 10 character with an “I saved the world” backstory. That’s what the story is about.

But also, do not limit your character ideas to what your current stats are- your character is as fluid as its development is. Some gardeners become protectors in great stories. If the templates and basic things don’t seem like they are ticking all the right boxes, or that nothing quite describes the character you’d like to build…. Remember that multi-classing is a thing. The possibilities are endless depending on what choices you are willing to make. In much the same way as real life you can choose to learn multiple things to create your own field of study/ specialty. If you’d like to learn more about multi-classing, check out page 163 of the D&D Players handbook.

Now go out there, build an awesome character, and keep your eyes peeled for our next D&D post where Taylor will cover actual execution and playing of this awesome character you have created.

See you on the battlefield!

Mikaela

Happy Tarot Tuesday! Let’s talk today about another simple ‘spread’ for self-reflection. I say ‘spread’ loosely this time, as this is technically a single card pull. Despite being small, it’s great for getting to know your deck and heavy on the introspective aspect- which I will always love. For this spread we will again be using the Dreams of Gaia Deck by Ravynn Phelan- but you can use any deck. Today we’re going to be talking about the “Guide Spread”.

The Guide

There is only one card to define in this go around, because well, it’s a single card draw as we’ve said. This card is meant to guide you, help you reflect on something that is prevalent in your life at this time, and can be used to help you reflect on your actions preemptively. Sometimes a guide card may only be relevant for a day. Maybe you happen to pull a card relevant to something that is a larger or more ongoing issue. On a rare occasion a card may need to keep you company for longer than a day.

Performing the Guide Spread

My regular recommendations for tarot apply here: give yourself ample time to complete it and find a quiet space where you can relax and focus. Keep a journal or notebook handy, as well as your guidebook. Find appropriate lighting and light a candle or incense if that helps you relax, same with music/background noise. The point is to intentionally relax and be present in your reflection.

Shuffle. There is no right or wrong way, just shuffle. Stop when it feels right, or your hands get tired. Whatever comes first. Whether you cut your deck or not is up to you.

Before you delve into meanings and reflection, spend some time looking at the artwork, just examining the card. How does its artwork make you feel without immediately knowing what it means?

Review the meaning of the card and take into account if it is upright or reversed/blocked. Reflect on how this may affect your day, if there is something happening that this could help/ hinder with? I find this a good tool to reflect on whatever quality the card is addressing and assess whether I think this is a strength of mine or maybe a weakness I need to pay attention to as I go about my day.

Take your time with this part of the process, as sometimes there are the immediate reactions and the secondary ones after you’ve had a few minutes to think and consider. Don’t judge your reflection as positive or negative. You are simply examining the prompt as it is.

Closing the Reading:

Take a few minutes to write about your experience. This is where we want to be thinking about how this makes us feel. Note that I do not say “where we judge the reading”. That’s not the point, you can feel positively, or negatively, or inspired, or melancholy- whatever it may be; without judging the answer. One is a sensation, the other is a statement. Be careful with this.

Keeping a journal will give you something to look back on, a way to notice trends, and a second round of reflection that is slightly different. Some people (like myself) process differently when we’re writing and the act of moving your hands to reflect things helps anchor the process into linear thoughts when your brain might otherwise be a basket of ferrets on espresso.

The point is that this is between you and yourself. Which means that honest reflection is not only encouraged, but necessary- especially if you can get out of the habit of judging yourself and just letting yourself feel what you feel without commenting on it.

Now you’re ready to go about your day with a reflection excersize done and your mind prepared to be present and take the day as it comes!

We’d love to hear about your experiences with intentional living and I hope you give this a shot.

All the best,

Mikaela